Rapid identification and quantification of five major mogrosides in Siraitia grosvenorii (Luo-Han-Guo) by high performance liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry combined with microwave-assisted extraction

An effective and rapid method involving high performance liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–QTrap–MS/MS) was developed for identification and quantification of five major mogrosides (mogroside III, mogroside IV, siamenoside I, mogroside V and 11-oxomogroside V) contained in real samples of Siraitia grosvenorii (Luo-Han-Guo) for the first time. High extraction efficiency was obtained for the five mogrosides by using microwave-assisted extraction compared with other common extraction methods during sample pretreatment prior to determination. Mass measurement for molecular ions and characteristic fragment ions well accorded with corresponding identification criteria. Quantitative data acquisition was accomplished in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, and further identification of target compounds was achieved by using ultra performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole-time-of-flightmass spectrometry. The proposed method could be used as a rapid and reliable approach for effective assessment of Luo-Han-Guo, and also provided use for reference in terms of real analysis of other traditional Chinese medicines in the future.